CHAPTER XXIV
A FIGHT TO A FINISH
TWENTY-FOUR hours later the "Heracles" arrived at her appointedstation, where she relieved her sister-ship the "Proteacius," thelatter having to return to replenish her bunkers. Hull down to thenor'ard, her position indicated by a thin haze of smoke upon theskyline, was another British cruiser. Yet another was just visible tothe south'ard. These were but a few of the far-flung line that wassystematically closing upon the fugitive German ships.
It was realised that the chase might be a prolonged one. In spite ofelaborate precautions, it was quite possible for the hostile craft toelude detection for a considerable period. That they were withinmeasurable distance was evident by the fact that the wirelessmessages between the various British cruisers were continually being"jammed" The Germans, by dint of throwing out wireless "waves," werethus able to interrupt seriously long-distance communication betweentheir pursuers.
Just before midnight a destroyer came within flashlight-signallingdistance of the "Heracles." Her message, given in code, was asfollows: "'Heracles,' 'Castor,' and 'Pollux' to proceed. Investigate.In event of falling in with enemy, engage until supported by'Ponderous' and 'Thunderbolt.'"
Due west tore the "Heracles," under forced draught. Morning revealedthe presence of the "Castor," seven miles to her starboard beam. The"Pollux" was approximately at the same distance from the "Heracles,"but well on her port quarter.
It was a beautiful morning. The sun, rising in a grey sky behind abank of mist, threw its rays aslant the long rollers of the Atlantic.Ahead the horizon was unbroken. Not a trace could be discerned of theenemy.
At eight bells the wireless jamming suddenly ceased. Did it mean thatother units of the squadron were engaging the German cruisers? Afar-flung general call received the reply that as yet the enemy hadnot been sighted.
Half an hour later the "Heracles" picked up a wireless message fromone of the fugitives to the other. Most remarkably it was not incode, and was as follows:
"'Lemburg' to 'Stoshfeld': am making my way northward. Endeavouringto fetch Reykiavik. Course presumably clear."
To which the "Stoshfeld" replied: "Concur: will attempt to rejoin youat Reykiavik."
A BATTLE CRUISER SQUADRON]
The message was obviously a "blind," sent out in the vain hope thatthe British ships would speed northward to prevent the fugitivesentering Danish waters and thus claiming internment in Iceland.Accordingly the "Heracles" signalled to her consorts to shape acourse to the south-west and to refrain from using wireless untilfurther orders.
Tressidar had just relieved another sub. for duty in the fire-controlplatform when a strange sail was sighted two points on the starboardbow. Helm was accordingly altered to a course shaped to bring thecruiser close to the recently sighted vessel.
It did not take the "Heracles" long to get within easy telescopicdistance. The craft was apparently a large tramp with two stumpymasts and two funnels. She was steaming slowly in an easterlydirection, and was consequently almost bows-on to the Britishcruiser.
She made no attempt to alter her course, and when the "Heracles"hoisted a signal, "What ship is that?" she replied in theInternational Code making her number, port of departure anddestination.
Reference to the code-book proclaimed the tramp to be the s.s."Scoopcash" of Liverpool, northward bound from Montreal. Almostimmediately another hoist of bunting fluttered from her foremasthead, quickly followed by others, until the complete signal read:
"Have been chased by large German cruiser. Lat. 45? 17' N., Long.20? 5' W. Hostile vessels abandoned pursuit and made off to the norwest."
Tressidar had his telescope levelled on the merchantman. The vesselhaving slightly ported helm was approximately five thousand yardsdistant.
"Jolly rummy!" he soliloquised. "Is it fancy, or did I see thosetopsides bulge?" He lowered the glass, rubbed his eyes, then lookedagain.
"I say, Picklecombe," he remarked, addressing a midshipman, "justbring your telescope and bear upon that vessel's hull. See anythingout of the usual? I may be mistaken but----"
The midshipman, quick to act, had already levelled his telescope.
"By Jupiter!" he exclaimed. "If she hasn't dummy bulwarks I'm alubber."
The sub. promptly telephoned to the bridge, expressing his doubts asto the bona-fides of the s.s. "Scoopcash," with the result that a shotwas fired within fifty yards of her bows and the peremptory signal toheave-to for examination hoisted from the "Heracles'" signal yardarm.
With the discharge of the cruiser's gun a sudden change took place onboard the supposed tramp. For full a hundred feet aft from her bows acanvas screen dropped, revealing a for'ard turret with two 9.4-in.guns, and smaller turrets, each mounting a 5.9-in. quick-firer.
A succession of vivid flashes leapt from the disguised vessel's decksand half a dozen heavy shells hurtled perilously close to the Britishcruiser.
Her opponent was the "Stoshfeld." On finding their retreat cut off,the German crew set to work to transform the outward appearance ofthe ship. This was effected by raising canvas stretched on polesaround the fo'c'sle and poop, thus giving the look of a continuousline of bulwarks level with the permanent superstructure amidshipsThe cruiser's sides were then given a coat of black paint. The nextstep was to do away with the unmistakable military masts. The foreand main topmast were accordingly struck, the lower masts beingdemolished by the use of small charges of explosives. The topmastswere then set up, thus giving the appearance of the "sticks" of amerchantman. The centre one of the three funnels was also knockedaway, and those remaining were painted red with black tops.
This work having been accomplished, the "Stoshfeld" steamedsouthward, with the intention of making a South American port. Here,all being well, she could transfer her lighter armament to some ofthe nominally interned German merchantmen, and the latter could thenslip out to sea as armed commerce destroyers.
Unfortunately for her, the "Stoshfeld" sighted a squadron of UnitedStates cruisers, and mistaking them for British vessels, doubled backthis time on a south-westerly track until she blundered across the"Heracles."
The secret was out. The German cruiser had to fight or surrender; andshe chose the former alternative.
For the time being the "Heracles," being unsupported by her consorts,who were far on her quarter, had to engage single-handed her morepowerfully armed antagonist. It was an action in which gunnery wasthe supreme factor. The two vessels were beyond effective torpedorange, while neither had the assistance of bomb-dropping aircraft orthe deadly-sneaking submarine.
Almost the first shell from the hostile cruiser struck the "Heracles"twenty feet for'ard of the fore-turret. Her protected belt saved her,but practically the whole of the fo'c'sle was wrecked. Viewed fromthe fore-top the scene following the tremendous upheaval resembled aship-breaker's works. The deck was ripped up like cardboard, and thecrews of the two 12-pounder quick-firers were literally blown topieces. Another shell, missing the foremast by a few feet, pulverisedthe foremast funnel and wrought havoc on the spar deck.
The "Heracles'" reply was a stern one. With one terrific salvo herguns simply swept the German cruiser's decks. Her top hamperdisappeared as if by magic. The two remaining funnels crashed overthe side, falling across the shields of a couple of 6-inchquick-firers and putting the weapons out of action. The paintedcanvas burst into flames, and, burning furiously, obscured the Germangun-layers' vision, while 'tween decks dense columns of smoke werepouring through jagged holes torn by the British shells.
Evidently the same salvo had put the "Stoshfeld's" for'ard 9.4's outof action, for they did not fire again. The German cruiser thencircled to starboard; slowly, for with the loss of her funnels herspeed had dropped to a bare seventeen knots. Yet by keeping her sternon to her antagonist she was able to bring her as yet uselessafter-guns to bear upon the "Heracles."
The latter, also subjected to loss of speed, made no attempt toclose. Porting helm, she was able to bring all her broadside guns aswell as the bow a
nd stern turret-guns to bear upon the badly crippled"Stoshfeld."
Suddenly shells began to fall with a high trajectory in front andbehind the British cruiser. She was, in naval parlance, "straddled"by hostile projectiles fired at long range. The "Lemburg," steamingto her consort's assistance--a deliberate act of self-sacrifice--hadcommenced to fire salvoes at the "Heracles."
The "Castor" and the "Pollux" were still too far astern to take partin the action. For five minutes the "Heracles" was subjected tofierce fire from the two German cruisers. Shells ricochetted allaround her. Only the indifferent gunnery of the "Lemburg" saved her,and since she was outranged by that vessel the British cruiser hadperforce to devote her attention to the "Stoshfeld" until theundamaged cruisers could engage.
Quickly the "Castor" passed the "Heracles," steaming two miles towindward, and presently her guns added to the din. Almost immediatelythe galling fire of the "Lemburg" ceased to annoy the "Stoshfeld's"antagonist, for the second German cruiser had now all her work cutout to engage the other British cruisers.
Giving the "Stoshfeld" a couple of broadsides as she passed, the"Pollux" followed in support of the "Castor," leaving the badlymauled "Heracles" to continue her ocean duel with her seriouslydamaged opponent.
Between the drifting clouds of vapour, for the cordite was far fromsmokeless, Tressidar watched the effect of the "Heracles'"projectiles upon the German cruisers, reporting to the conning-towerthe result of each direct hit.
Amidships the "Stoshfeld" was little better than a roaring volcano.Her after-guns were still maintaining brisk fire and although sheflew no colours, she evidently had no intention of surrendering. Infifteen minutes from the beginning of the action Tressidar was ableto report that the German cruiser was listing badly to port. Hersteering-gear, too, was much damaged, for she yawed considerably asshe vainly sought safety in flight.
Conversely, the "Heracles" was receiving less of a gruelling. TheGerman gunnery, at first most effective, had developed into erratic,desultory firing. In her plight the hostile cruiser swung round andmade a determined attempt to ram, but the captain of the Britishwarship promptly countered by turning eight points to starboard andincreasing the distance between the two combatants.
"She's going!" almost shouted Tressidar into the telephone.
A bugle note rang out: the order to cease fire. Immediately theBritish guns were silent, contemptuous of the erratic efforts of asmall quick-firer that alone was capable of hurling defiance from thedoomed ship.
From below hundreds of British seamen, clad only in trousers andsinglets, poured on deck to witness the end of their foe. Boxed inbehind armour, unable to see for themselves how events were shaping,almost suffocated by the pungent fumes, they were now able to see theresult of their work.
There was no cheering. All signs of elation over the victory werechecked by the sight of the shell-torn cruiser about to make her lastplunge.
The "Heracles" made no attempt to close until it was evident that thedoomed ship was unable to deliver a last, desperate stroke in theshape of a torpedo, then slowly the cruiser steamed towards heropponent to rescue the survivors of her crew.
The British cruiser had only two boats capable of keeping afloat, andthese only by means of temporary expedient in the shape of coppersheets and strips of painted canvas tacked over the jagged holes inthe planking. But Jack Tar was not to be baulked in his humaneefforts. Mess-tables and stools, empty petrol-cans, lifebuoys andlifebelts were pressed into service and carried on deck ready to becast overboard to support the swimmers.
Suddenly two enormous waterspouts leapt high in the air, one oneither side and close to the British cruiser. An ear-splittingdetonation followed almost simultaneously, as the "Heracles,"trembling violently under the shock, lurched heavily to port.
In the moment of victory she had been mined.